Welcome to our detailed guide about the miles to kilometres converter tool. This handy tool is perfect for people who often need to convert distances from the imperial system to the metric system or vice versa.
Understanding the Mile
Definition of Mile
A mile (symbol: mi or m) is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. It is currently defined as 5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, or exactly 1,609.344 meters.
History of the Mile
The mile is an English unit, a predecessor of Imperial units and United States Customary Units, of length. The use of the abbreviation “m” for mile was common before the widespread adoption of the metric system. After the adoption of the metric system, “mi” became the preferred abbreviation to avoid confusion between miles and meters. The definition of a mile as 5,280 feet, sometimes referred to as the statute mile, international mile, or land mile, differs from the Roman mile of 5,000 feet.
Current Usage of Mile
Although most countries have adopted the metric system and use kilometers to express land distance, the mile is still prevalently used in countries such as the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Myanmar, and Liberia, as well as some other countries which are either US or UK territories, or have historical ties with either country.
What Is a Kilometer?
Definition of Kilometer
A kilometer (symbol: km) is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). One kilometer is equivalent to 0.6214 miles.
History of the Kilometer
The prefix kilo- is a metric prefix indicating one thousand. One kilometer is therefore one thousand meters. The origin of the kilometer is linked to that of the meter, and its current definition as the distance traveled by light in 1/299 792 458 second.
Current Usage of Kilometer
It is currently the official unit of measurement for expressing distances between geographical places on land in most of the world. However, there still remain a number of countries that primarily use the mile instead of the kilometer including the United States and the United Kingdom (UK).
Miles to Kilometers Conversion Table
| Mile [mi, Mi(Int)] | Kilometer [km] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 mi | 0.01609344 km |
| 0.1 mi | 0.1609344 km |
| 1 mi | 1.609344 km |
| 2 mi | 3.218688 km |
| 3 mi | 4.828032 km |
| 5 mi | 8.04672 km |
| 10 mi | 16.09344 km |
| 20 mi | 32.18688 km |
| 50 mi | 80.4672 km |
| 100 mi | 160.9344 km |
| 1000 mi | 1609.344 km |
Converting Miles to Kilometers
The Conversion Formula
To convert miles to kilometers, just multiply the miles figure by 1.609344. This is the miles to km formula.
Example Conversion
Let’s say you have to travel 100 miles by road. To convert this distance into kilometers, do the following calculation:
100 * 1.609344 = 160.9 km
So, you are actually going to travel 160.9 km!
How to Convert Miles to Kilometers
1 mile is equal to 1.609344 kilometers:
1mi = 1.609344km
The distance d in kilometers (km) is equal to the distance d in miles (mi) times 1.609344:
d(km) = d(mi) × 1.609344
Example Conversion
Convert 20 mi to kilometers:
d(km) = 20mi × 1.609344 = 32.18688km
Other Handy Conversion Metrics
How many kilometers in a mile?
One mile is equal to 1.609344 kilometers:
1mi = 1mi × 1.609344 = 1.609344km
How many miles in a kilometer?
One kilometer is equal to 1/1.609344 miles:
1km = 1km/1.609344 = 0.6213712mi
How to convert 10mi to kilometers?
Multiply 10 miles by 1.609344 to get kilometers:
10mi = 10mi × 1.609344 = 16.09344km
Why Convert Distance from Miles to Kilometers?
United States of America uses the customary units of measurement. Similarly, in UK the Imperial units are used. If you have some length figures in miles and you need the same figures in the equivalent kilometers, this miles to kilometers converter tool can come in handy.
Conclusion
Whether you’re planning a trip, working on a school project, or just curious about distance conversions, our miles to kilometers converter tool is a great resource. Remember to bookmark this page for easy access to conversions whenever you need it. We hope you found this guide useful and informative!
